Everardo Macias

About Everardo Macias

Development and progression of prostate cancer is associated with obesity, suggesting that therapeutic targeting of metabolic factors may represent a novel treatment strategy. However, caloric restriction to target the metabolic consequences of obesity has not shown a significant clinical benefit in preventing disease progression.

Dr. Everardo Macias will employ a novel screening method in mouse models to identify genes that are essential for prostate cancer progression during dietary interventions including caloric restriction in the setting of obesity. Identified genes will be targeted in pre-clinical models to validate synergy with caloric restriction for maximally limiting tumor growth and progression.

If successful, this project will identify molecular pathways that can be targeted to enhance the effects of caloric restriction in preventing prostate cancer progression.

What this means for patients: Poor diet and lifestyle factors contribute to prostate cancer progression. This project will identify novel therapeutic targets that will enhance the anti-tumor effects of dietary intervention in obese patients, and may create new treatment paradigms.